SAN FRANCISCO – Melky Cabrera’s MVP-like year is over – at least for the regular season.

The San Francisco outfielder was suspended 50 games Wednesday following a positive test for testosterone, putting an abrupt end to what had been a remarkable regular season and throwing the Giants’ playoff hopes into doubt.

“Ultimately, it was just a bad decision,” catcher Buster Posey said.

Cabrera leads the National League with 159 hits, and is second in batting average behind Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen. Cabrera’s penalty was the first for a high-profile player since last year’s NL MVP, Ryan Braun, had his suspension overturned by an arbitrator last winter.

“My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used,” Cabrera said in a statement released by the players’ association. “I accept my suspension under the Joint Drug Program and I will try to move on with my life. I am deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, to the San Francisco Giants organization and to the fans for letting them down.”

The suspension would extend into the playoffs if the Giants advance.

“It happened, and now we move on,” right fielder Hunter Pence said. “I know the program and I know they test us, and if we test positive we get a suspension. That’s what happened. And now we play with what we’ve got.”

Cabrera is batting .346 with 11 home runs and 60 RBIs in his first season with San Francisco and is five hits shy of 1,000 in his big league career. Flashing bright orange spikes, he singled and hit a two-run homer last month in the National League’s 8-0 win in the All-Star game, earning MVP honors for the game and securing homefield advantage for the World Series.

Cabrera is set to become a free agent after this season, so he might have cost himself a big pay day, too.